He told the M.E.N the expenses scandal – which engulfed all the major parties – had been the 'final straw' in his disillusionment with politics.

“What some MPs have been up to is an absolute disgrace,” he said. “In general terms all the people who have been found to be abusing the system deserve to be removed from office.”

Mr Lewis also took a swipe at Labour-controlled councils for failing to challenge Labour's right-wards drift.

“There has not been a word of criticism of the government,” he said. “The government has made it a profitable exercise being a councillor. You have councillors with no real responsibility due to cabinet-style councils, who are picking up £8,000 a year.

“Then some of them sit on other boards and authorities and picking up £30,000 or £40,000 a year – they are not going to criticise the government.”